Frank Passa
Encyclopedia
Frank Passa was an internationally known American maker of bows and violins (Archetier
& Luthier
).
A native of New York City
, Frank Passa was a pupil of Simone Fernando Sacconi
a very talented violin maker from Italy
. Sacconi and his shop (Rembert Wurlitzer Co.
) helped develop many of the modern techniques of restoration that are still being used today. About a dozen pupils of his spread out across the United States, and Frank was one of them.
Frank served in the Army during World War II
and then began his career in San Francisco crafting and restoring violin
s and bow
s, a job he kept for 51 years until he was forced to retire in 1999 due to illness.
Mr. Passa was also a member of the Family Club of San Francisco and the Entente International Society of Violin and Bow Makers.
He died September 11, 2001 in Santa Rosa after a long illness. He was 85.
Archetier
A bow maker is a person who builds, repairs, and restores ancient or modern bows for instruments of the violin family. These include violins, violas, cellos, double basses, viola d'amore, viola da gamba, etc....
& Luthier
Luthier
A luthier is someone who makes or repairs lutes and other string instruments. In the United States, the term is used interchangeably with a term for the specialty of each maker, such as violinmaker, guitar maker, lute maker, etc...
).
A native of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Frank Passa was a pupil of Simone Fernando Sacconi
Simone Fernando Sacconi
Simone Fernando Sacconi was an expert Italian violin maker and restorer who studied fellow luthier Antonio Stradivari extensively during his lifetime....
a very talented violin maker from Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. Sacconi and his shop (Rembert Wurlitzer Co.
Rembert Wurlitzer Co.
Rembert Wurlitzer Co. was a distinguished firm in New York City that specialized in fine musical instruments and bows.Founded in Europe in 1856, the Wurlitzer Co. was a world-famous musical instrument company known for its many ateliers in the United States....
) helped develop many of the modern techniques of restoration that are still being used today. About a dozen pupils of his spread out across the United States, and Frank was one of them.
Frank served in the Army during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and then began his career in San Francisco crafting and restoring violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
s and bow
Bow (music)
In music, a bow is moved across some part of a musical instrument, causing vibration which the instrument emits as sound. The vast majority of bows are used with string instruments, although some bows are used with musical saws and other bowed idiophones....
s, a job he kept for 51 years until he was forced to retire in 1999 due to illness.
Mr. Passa was also a member of the Family Club of San Francisco and the Entente International Society of Violin and Bow Makers.
He died September 11, 2001 in Santa Rosa after a long illness. He was 85.